Director and Student Deans' Biographies

Director of The Honors Program at UDM

Jason J. Roche

Jason Roche grew up in Auburn, NY, home of Harriet Tubman and William Seward. After graduating cum laude from Geneseo State University of New York in 1991 he completed his master’s degree at Syracuse University in 1994. While teaching part time at Cayuga Community College, Roche worked full time as a reporter and anchor, winning an Edward R. Murrow Award with the news team at WSYR in Syracuse in 2000. Since that year he has been teaching full time at universities in upstate New York and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He moved to University of Detroit Mercy in 2009. Professor Roche produces documentary films and records and produces electronic music. He is also a third degree black belt in Beikokujin Soo Do, an eclectic American martial art.

Student Deans

Brandon Herzog (right) grew up in Rockwood, MI, and attended Gibraltar Carlson High School, where he graduated salutatorian in 2008. He is an Insignis Scholar at UDM and is currently working towards dual degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is president of the UDM Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). He is also on the Dean's list. Brandon hopes to contribute to The Honors Program and make it more inclusive and hands on for both new and old members alike.

Caroline Strasz (left)grew up in Grosse Pointe Woods and graduated summa cum laude from Regina High School in 2008. She is an Insignis Scholar and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Legal Administration and a minor in Philosophy. After college, Caroline plans to attend law school. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honors Society, and Phi Sigma Alpha. Caroline is on the Dean’s list and is a recipient of the Dean’s Award and Dean’s Golden Key Award. Caroline looks forward to helping build a strong sense of community within the Honors Program and enhancing the Program’s ties to the community.

Alex Tolkdorf (center)grew up in Warren, MI and attended Brother Rice High School, where he graduated in the top decile in his class in 2009. He is an Insignis Scholar at UDM and is currently working toward a five-year Bachelor of Business Administration / Master of Business Administration degree, and a minor in Philosophy. He holds a Certificate in Language Studies I in the Spanish Language from UDM, and is a CompTIA A+ certified computer technician. He is a member of the Global Jesuit Business Student Association, Alpha Sigma Nu, the Student Advisory Board for the College of Business Administration, and is on the Dean’s list. Alex looks forward to advancing the scholarly, self-exploratory, and service goals of the Program in the University and community as a whole, along with being a part of the continued excellence of the Program.